Quick answer: keep a UL-listed A-B-C extinguisher on each floor, somewhere easy to reach in an emergency [1]. Add a dedicated kitchen unit if you cook with oil, and a small one in the car. Then learn the rule that matters more than the hardware: only fight a fire that’s small and contained to one object, after someone has called the fire department, and with a clear way out behind you [1].
At a glance
- Type for most homes
- Multipurpose A-B-C or B-C [1]
- Label to look for
- UL or ULC Listed [1]
- Size
- The largest you can safely and comfortably use [1]
- How to use
- PASS: Pull, Aim low, Squeeze, Sweep [1]
- Grease fire on the stove
- Slide a lid over the pan and turn off the burner [2]
- Yearly check
- An external examination every year, per NFPA 10 as cited by Kidde [3]
What the rating on the label means
Every extinguisher on this page carries a UL rating, and the letters tell you which fires it’s for [1]:
- A: ordinary materials such as cloth, wood and paper.
- B: flammable liquids such as grease, gasoline, oil and oil-based paint.
- C: plugged-in electrical equipment; the agent doesn’t conduct electricity.
- K: cooking oils and fats, mostly in commercial kitchens.
The numbers measure power. In 1-A:10-B:C, the number before A reflects water-equivalent capacity in multiples of 1.25 gallons, and the number before B relates to the square feet of liquid fire it can handle [1]. So a 3-A:40-B:C unit is a step up from a 1-A:10-B:C unit.
How we chose these extinguishers
We didn’t discharge or test these extinguishers. We picked them from makers’ data sheets and the public recall record.
- A UL rating printed by the maker, with agent weight, discharge time and range from the data sheet.
- An all-metal valve and handle. In 2017 Kidde recalled about 37.8 million extinguishers with plastic handles, made from 1973 to August 2017, because they could fail to discharge or the nozzle could come off [11]. Every pick here lists a metal valve, handle and lever on its data sheet.
- No current recall. We searched the CPSC’s recall list for each brand and model on November 6, 2026 [10].
- A different job for each pick, so you can match one to each room.
The extinguisher picks
Best for: The kitchen, as a backup to a pan lid
Kidde Kitchen Fire Extinguisher (RESSP)
A special-purpose unit for flammable-liquid and cooking-grease fires. Kidde says its low-velocity nozzle reduces grease splash, which lowers the risk of spreading a fire, and it's meant to work without damaging appliances [4][5].
- UL rated to UL 711A, per Kidde [4]
- 2.5 lb agent; about 3.9 lb total [5]
- 8 to 10 seconds of discharge; 5 ft range [5]
- Aluminum cylinder; aluminum and steel valve and handle [5]
- Single-use; 12-year service-free design [4][5]
Safety check: Kidde lists a UL 711A rating; no CPSC recall found for this model (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: It has no Class A rating, so it doesn't replace a multipurpose extinguisher for the rest of the house. The 5-foot range means getting close; NFPA's first step for a stovetop grease fire is a lid and turning off the burner [2].
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: A car, boat or small apartment
Kidde Basic 110 Fire Extinguisher (FA110G)
It's under 4 pounds and about 14 inches tall, but still carries a 1-A:10-B:C rating, so it covers ordinary materials as well as liquids and electrical fires. It comes with a strap bracket and is U.S. Coast Guard approved for boats with that bracket [6][7].
- UL rated 1-A:10-B:C [6]
- 2.5 lb agent; about 3.9 lb total; 14.2 in tall [7]
- 8 to 12 seconds of discharge; 6 to 8 ft range [7]
- Seamless aluminum cylinder; aluminum and steel valve and handle [7]
- USCG approved with included strap bracket; 12-year service-free design [6][7]
Safety check: UL rated per Kidde; no CPSC recall found for this model (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: Eight to twelve seconds of spray goes fast, and the 6 to 8 foot range means standing close [7]. It's for a very small fire only.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: An unheated garage or workshop
Amerex B500 5 lb ABC Dry Chemical Extinguisher
Amerex lists a temperature range of -65°F to 120°F for its ABC line, a drawn-steel cylinder and an all-metal valve, and backs it with a 6-year warranty. The B500 carries a 2A:10B:C rating [8][9].
- UL rated 2A:10B:C; 5 lb of ABC dry chemical [9]
- 15.25 in tall; about 9.3 lb shipping weight with box [9]
- 14 seconds of discharge; 12 to 18 ft range [9]
- Anodized aluminum valve, handle and lever; drawn-steel cylinder [8][9]
- UL listed to UL 299 and UL 711; 6-year warranty [8][9]
Safety check: UL listed per Amerex's catalog; no CPSC recall found for Amerex extinguishers (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: Its listed shipping weight is about 9.3 pounds with the box, heavier than the Kidde picks [9]. Amerex's catalog gives a warranty, not a home service life, so follow the maintenance schedule on its label.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
| Model | UL rating | Agent | Discharge | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kidde RESSP | UL 711A (kitchen) | 2.5 lb | 8–10 sec | 5 ft |
| Kidde FA110G | 1-A:10-B:C | 2.5 lb | 8–12 sec | 6–8 ft |
| Amerex B500 | 2A:10B:C | 5 lb | 14 sec | 12–18 ft |
Where to keep them and how to check them
- Near an exit, not next to the hazard. Keep each one easy to reach with nothing blocking it [1]. A unit right beside the stove is hard to reach when the stove is on fire.
- Look at it once a year. Kidde’s data sheets cite NFPA 10: single-use extinguishers don’t need the 6-year internal examination, but they do need a yearly external check [3]. The U.S. Fire Administration says to check that the gauge isn’t too high or too low, and that the can, hose and nozzle aren’t dented, rusted or damaged [1].
- Replace it when it’s used or low. Kidde’s picks are single-use [5][7], and the U.S. Fire Administration says some extinguishers must be replaced when pressure is too low [1].
- Check old Kidde units. If yours has a plastic handle or a push-button Pindicator, look up the model on the CPSC’s 2017 recall notice [11]. Kidde also recalled disposable extinguishers with black plastic valves made from July 2013 to October 2014 [12].
Fight or leave?
The U.S. Fire Administration says to use an extinguisher only if all of these are true [1]:
- Everyone has been alerted and someone has called the fire department.
- You’re physically able to use it. The agency says young children and older adults shouldn’t use extinguishers.
- The fire is small and contained to one object or surface.
- You’re safe from smoke and have a clear way out.
If any of those isn’t true, leave, close the door behind you, and call 911 from outside [2].
Sources
- U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA): Choosing and Using Fire Extinguishers
- NFPA: Cooking Safety tip sheet
- Kidde: FX340SC-2 product data sheet
- Kidde: Kitchen Fire Extinguisher (RESSP)
- Kidde: RESSP Kitchen product data sheet
- Kidde: Basic 110 Fire Extinguisher (FA110G)
- Kidde: FA110G Basic 110 product data sheet
- Amerex: ABC Dry Chemical Portable Fire Extinguishers
- Amerex: Portable Fire Extinguisher Catalog
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls
- CPSC: Kidde Recalls Fire Extinguishers with Plastic Handles (November 2, 2017)
- CPSC: Kidde Recalls Disposable Plastic Fire Extinguishers (February 12, 2015)
Common questions
What kind of fire extinguisher is best for a home?
A multipurpose extinguisher labeled A-B-C, which the U.S. Fire Administration says can be used on most home fires. Look for a UL or ULC listing on the label, and choose the largest one you can safely and comfortably handle.
What do the numbers on a fire extinguisher mean?
In a rating like 2-A:10-B:C, the number before A reflects the extinguisher's water-equivalent capacity for ordinary materials like wood and paper, the number before B relates to the area of flammable-liquid fire it can handle in square feet, and C means it's safe on energized electrical equipment.
How do you use a fire extinguisher?
Remember PASS: Pull the pin, Aim low at the base of the fire, Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly, and Sweep from side to side. Only fight a fire that's small and contained, after everyone is alerted and someone has called the fire department.
Do home fire extinguishers expire?
Kidde's current single-use home models have a 12-year service-free design, and its data sheets note that NFPA 10 still calls for a yearly external examination. Replace any extinguisher that's been used or whose gauge shows low pressure.